Let me refrain something I’ve said before: there are reasons why nations that embraced Christianity have prospered. There are reasons why western culture has flourished with invention, discovery, and scientific breakthroughs that have increased the quality of life for mankind. It was not due to humanism, atheism or secularism or socialism but to Christianity—which brings revelation, light and the truth that sets men free. Peace, freedom, and prosperity are the gifts of God upon an obedient people who live according to the teachings of Christ found in the Holy Bible. That is the key to understanding our nation’s strength and success, our salvation and hope for the future.

If you want to strengthen your freedom, strengthen faith. The Founders knew this—they established this country upon Biblical principles. They established a government with limited powers, allowing for the maximum exercise of freedom among the people, and they exhorted us never to forget—that for freedom to be sustained, it must exist within the context of a morally sound culture. That culture depends on the flourishing of civil society—of smaller, private institutions that mediate between the individual and the state. Yes, there are also reasons why the vast expanse of government under the New Deal and the Great Society paralleled the rise of social pathologies, the breakdown of the traditional family, and the development of a permanent dependent class. Spending that increases the size and scope of government cannot go on forever—from a moral or economic standpoint. The more government takes over, the less room it leaves for all the components of civil society—individuals, businesses, community organizations, churches—indeed, the less room it leaves for any meaningful freedom at all.

I explain all of this, because now is the time we ought to be reminded. We must hold the lines on some things or our freedoms may be lost. When Congress and the Courts begin to stretch their powers beyond the limits of the Constitution, there is no limit to it, and no security for the people. Only the people through political elected Representatives may curb the abuse and stop the trend. That is what is at stake in the election of 2011-2012. What is needed in the Congress is tough-minded conservatives of the right stripe—those who are constitutionalist, States rights conservatives who understand the proper role of government and who also understand that the most important defining characteristic of freedom, of self-determination and identity, the basis of all legitimacy for government and for human life itself is God and the expression of the people’s religion where they live. If States answer to the People and not the other way around, then we most certainly may and are always well advised, to acknowledge God publicly, in our courtrooms and in our schools. Impeachment is the answer for modern liberal judges who stamp on State sovereignty and the will of the People and, who infuse the Constitution with a so-called living doctrine that will kill our liberty unless we put a stop to it.

Historically, even before they got the right to vote, women were the moral standard bearers for society and led most of the church activities and social movements that improved conditions in America . Today the call goes forth again, in many races. I know that women and men will answer it.

You mean like the Roman Empire? Strange, I seem to remember them falling some time after coming under Christianity.

"There are reasons why western culture has flourished with invention, discovery, and scientific breakthroughs that have increased the quality of life for mankind. It was not due to humanism, atheism or secularism or socialism but to Christianity"

And what did Christianity do to Galileo? Oh, and the Muslims were more scientifically advanced than the Christians were for a long while when Christian societies were largely technologically static for centuries.

"The Founders knew this—they established this country upon Biblical principles."

The founders did no such thing. They based our system of government off of the ideas of Enlightenment ideas and the ideas of the Greek democracies and philosophers. (Plato's Republic comes to mind, given that we have a Republic)

Want more damning evidence they didn't base our government off the Bible? Well, the Treaty of Tripoli, which was authored under the Washington administration and unanimously passed into law by the Senate in the Adams administration has this to say:

"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,"

Regardless of your position on political matters, I would suggest learning history before trying to use it to support your positions.

...written by Kivahut , July 05, 2011

You can't rewrite history to suit your own argument. Christianity had 1450 years to improve human lives, and it failed. We call that time the "dark" ages because superstition ruled. Belief in your god is by definition superstition. Prosperity and freedom were born when people began questioning the validity of your religion, and indeed all religions.

...written by howard , July 05, 2011

'faith' of a dominant majority is able to 'self justify' their actions and abdicate their personal responsibility to their 'god' - the christian success is a continuation of the colonial/missionery mindset leaving in ruin the societies that existed for 10's of thounds of years - 'power and control with underlying greed' has been the adgenda while these dominating forces have seen all other 'peoples' less-than themselves.

...written by Robert Riddle , July 11, 2011

I'd just like to know exactly which Biblical principles are enshrined in the Constitution. I hear this all the time, yet no one has ever been able to explain it to me.

Where are concepts like the separation of powers, black people being worth 3/5 of a person, and the commerce clause mentioned in the Bible?

...written by Steve Heath , August 06, 2011

Good column Wes. Perhaps some of your "fans" would like us to live under countries run by non-Christian principles like so many did in the 20th century. Here's a partial scorecard:

USSR, 1921 21,000,000 hit by partly Soviet-engineered famine. (2nd August 1921) Ukraine, 1932-1933, 4,821,600 died of hunger engineered by Stalin 1932-33. 7,465,000 died in 1932-1939. USSR 1934 to 1953 - up to 15 million Russians disappeared in the GULAGS.

Poland/Russia from 1941: 1,700,000 Polish people were deported to Siberia after 1941.

Bengal, 1943- 1,500,000 died of war-related famine in 1943 in Bengal.

Germany, East Prussia 1945 up to 3,000,000 German civilians were killed by Russians in the last months of WW2.

There are God fearing Christians and then there is Christianity, not necessarily one and the same. It isn't Christians who have created an environment that kills the unborn, it isn't Christians who have made profanity and pornography a standard for entertainment, it isn't Christians that have created men who do not accept responsibility for their actions nor created the copout of easy divorce. The more liberal America becomes the more our morals decay. As a Christian, I find that appalling, if those who oppose religion think what is happening under humanism, atheism and liberalism is okay, we won't pester you but we'll pray for you.